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Rail News

Greater govt support for multimodal efficiencies needed, experts agree

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th December 2023 The cost of logistics in South Africa has increased significantly in the last eight years to about R800-billion a year at present and accounting for half of all products’ inherent costs. This while the country’s logistics ability is declining. →

SAAFF welcomes R47bn facility guarantee for Transnet's recovery

By: Darren Parker 4th December 2023 The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) says the R47-billion facility guarantee extended to Transnet, as announced by the government on December 1, is welcome as it may indeed activate the recovery of the State-owned entity and, in due course, aid the positioning of an... →

SAAFF CEO Dr Juanita Maree

Sasol appoints adviser to search for Boegoebaai hydrogen export hub coinvestors

By: Terence Creamer 1st December 2023 A financial adviser has been appointed to assist Sasol in a search for potential coinvestors into a green hydrogen and ammonia export hub at Boegoebaai, in the Northern Cape, following the completion of a prefeasibility study into the site’s potential. The study, which was initiated in 2021,... →

Treasury says equity injection can be averted as it unveils R47bn Transnet guarantee

By: Terence Creamer 1st December 2023 A R47-billion guarantee facility, effective immediately, has been extended to struggling State-owned freight logistics group Transnet in support of its recovery plan and to meet its immediate debt obligations. The guarantee was announced following concurrence between Finance Minister Enoch... →

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana

PRASA sets sights on big recovery in passenger trips by 2030

By: Irma Venter 1st December 2023 Like many other State-owned entities, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has had its share of scandals. Its board chairperson was fired following an investigation into abuse of PRASA accommodation. And then there are those multimillion-rand payments to keep suspended senior... →

NUM Highveld region to march against Transnet over debilitating logistics failures

By: Schalk Burger 30th November 2023 Trade union the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM's) Highveld Region is planning to march to the offices of the Presidency and the Department of Public Enterprises on December 9 to demand an immediate intervention on State-owned Transnet’s failure to transport minerals to and from the country’s... →

Gore warns of ‘plateauing’ pace of delivery on power, logistics, crime reforms

By: Terence Creamer 29th November 2023 Business Unity South Africa (Busa) president Adrian Gore has warned that the pace of delivery across the joint initiatives being taken with government on electricity, logistics and crime is “plateauing” and has called for a greater sense of “urgency and determination” to re-establish momentum. In... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Busa president and Discovery CEO Adrian Gore

RFA, SAAFF, Hume reiterate concern about South Africa’s logistics performance

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 28th November 2023 Representative organisation the Road Freight Association (RFA) emphasises that the deterioration of South Africa’s ports and rail has been a slow, continued process over at least ten years, and that management of State-owned entity (SOE) Transnet and its subsidiaries have been fully aware of the... →

Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly

Tanzania plans new $5.6bn rail line to iron-ore, coal-rich area

By: Bloomberg 28th November 2023 Tanzania is seeking $5.6-billion for a new railway in the south linking the Indian Ocean to Lake Nyasa and traversing regions rich in iron-ore, coal and graphite. The East African nation is looking for public-private partnerships for the 1 000 km line, according to a presentation by Tanzania... →

3 500 jobs at risk as ArcelorMittal mulls closure of longs units at Newcastle, Vereeniging

By: Terence Creamer 28th November 2023 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa has indicated that it may close its long-products business, which could result in the loss of 3 500 direct and contractor jobs at its Newcastle and Vereeniging operations. In a statement, the JSE-listed company said the potential wind down had been... →

Photo by Creamer Media
The Newcastle Works

PRASA dismisses employee following fraud investigation

By: Schalk Burger 24th November 2023 State-owned passenger rail company the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has dismissed an employee for the alleged theft of R34.5-million. PRASA detected irregular payments during routine financial review processes, which was escalated to senior leadership. PRASA's Internal Audit... →

Loadshedding and port congestion make headlines

24th November 2023 Creamer Media editor Terence Creamer discusses the lagging procurement of new electricity generation and addition of crucial grid infrastructure, as well as the dire situation at Transnet's ports and rail systems. →

Loadshedding and port congestion make headlines

Richards Bay Port says it ‘may’ halt trucks carrying cargo to the port; RFA outraged

By: Irma Venter 17th November 2023 Richards Bay Transnet Port Terminals (RCB TPT) says it “may” suspend the processing of trucks bringing cargo into its terminals by road. Only trucks whose vessels have been already nominated shall be processed, says Transnet regional corporate affairs manager Msawakhe Mayisela. →

The port of Richards Bay

More than half of copper cables on TFR's lines replaced with aluminium alternative

By: Darren Parker 17th November 2023 Transnet has, so far, replaced about 55% of the copper cables across its national railway network with an aluminium conductor steel reinforced (ACSR) cable called Tiger Wire, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) CE Russel Baatjies tells Engineering News. He says the switch to Tiger Wire is aimed at... →

Concrete manufacturer reopens manufacturing plant

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th November 2023 Precast concrete manufacturer Colossal Concrete Products reopened its De Aar manufacturing plant, in the Northern Cape, in September following the conclusion of a one-year contract with State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) to supply precast concrete railway sleepers for the parastatal’s... →

an image depicting concrete sleepers in a stockpile

CONCRETE SLEEPERSThe reopening will allow the company to reach its inherent capacity with the production of over one-million railway sleepers a year

Moody’s places Transnet on review for ratings downgrade

By: News24Wire 14th November 2023 Moody’s Investors Service has placed Transnet on review for a potential credit ratings downgrade due to concerns over liquidity and refinancing risks for the struggling state-owned freight, port and logistics group. "Moody's views weakened liquidity as a governance-related risk. After the... →

Africa must do more to advance its own development – Manuel

By: Schalk Burger 10th November 2023 Africa's business sector and governments must push harder in addressing the challenges facing the continent, as the biggest threat to its development is complacency, said insurance and investment management company Old Mutual chairperson and former South Africa Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Trevor Manuel

Indebted Transnet rolls over R7bn loans for four months

By: Bloomberg 8th November 2023 Transnet rolled over R7-billion of debt due this week until March, giving the South African State-owned port and rail company relief for four months. The bonds, which were due November 6, were dealt with “using funding and existing facilities,” Transnet said in an emailed response to questions.... →

Cabinet likely to consider freight logistics roadmap in February - Ntshavheni

By: Terence Creamer 6th November 2023 The Department of Transport is undertaking a two-part consultation programme on the Roadmap for the Freight Logistics System in South Africa ahead of Cabinet approval, which is unlikely before February. Following a Cabinet meeting, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the... →

Process to appoint new Gautrain partner post-2026 under way

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th November 2023 The Gauteng executive council has approved the procurement of a new delivery partner for the Gautrain system, meaning that the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) has been granted the approval to go to market and advertise a request for proposals (RfP) for a new delivery partner for the Gautrain... →

Photo by Creamer Media
The post-2026 Gautrain project is expected to further unlock economic potential and opportunities

Interim Infrastructure Manager set up to facilitate initial private access to rail network

By: Terence Creamer 2nd November 2023 Transnet has confirmed the establishment of an interim rail Infrastructure Manager, which will oversee the initial process of ensuring that the rail network is opened to private train operating companies (TOCs) from April 2024. The network has hitherto been monopolised by State-owned Transnet... →

Transnet urged to engage before presenting a R100bn bail-out ‘invoice’

By: Terence Creamer 1st November 2023 Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has not “closed the door” on Transnet’s move to secure a reported R100-billion in balance-sheet support to assist with its recently released turnaround plan. However, in a Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) briefing, he insisted that far more engagement... →

Partners of Lobito Corridor target construction completion in five years

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st October 2023 Following the signing of a seven-sided memorandum of understanding (MoU) between two financial institutions and the governments of the US, the European Union, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia for the development of the Lobito Corridor and the Zambia-Lobito rail line, a... →

Transnet unveils recovery plan

By: Creamer Media Reporter 27th October 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the background to Transnet's proposed recovery plan; some of the key components of this plan; and if Transnet is likely to get the support it is looking for from government. →

Transnet unveils recovery plan

Broad-based strain evident in the logistics sector, Ctrack index shows

By: Irma Venter 27th October 2023 The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (CTFI) retreated further during August, to an index level of 118.8, the lowest since February, when it was at 116.7. This represents a 1.5% decrease. It is also the third consecutive monthly contraction, and serves as confirmation of the ongoing strain the... →

‘Open and transparent’ third-party rail access system by April

By: Terence Creamer 26th October 2023 State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has confirmed that an open and transparent framework for granting private train operating companies’ third-party access to the South African railway network hitherto monopolised by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) will come into operation in April next... →

Transnet’s recovery plan premised on securing govt capital injection

By: Terence Creamer 26th October 2023 Absent an equity injection or debt relief from government, Transnet chairperson Andile Sangqu says the State-owned entity will not be able to deliver on what he described as a “credible” recovery plan for turning around the group’s dismal operational and financial performance. The slump the... →

Transnet chairperson Andile Sangqu

State of Safety Report unveils rail sector’s crossroads

By: Natasha Odendaal 25th October 2023 While South Africa’s railway sector works to rebuild post-pandemic, riots and a variety of disasters, the latest Railway Safety Regulator’s (RSR’s) State of Safety Report 2022/23 has painted a bleak picture of the safety of the railway system that demands immediate action. South Africa’s... →

Transnet to lean on Treasury for R100bn turnaround plan

By: News24Wire 25th October 2023 Transnet is seeking more than R100-billion from the Treasury over the next two years, according to the turnaround plan produced by the board. The R100-billion includes a request that the Treasury take over a minimum of R61-billion of its debt and provide R47-billion in an equity injection or a... →

Top bond investor slams South Africa bid to fix State firms

By: Bloomberg 24th October 2023 Futuregrowth Asset Management, a South African money manager overseeing more than R190-billion of fixed-income assets, says the government’s draft legislation meant to address inefficiencies at state entities is “ineffective, overdue, vague, and contradictory”. The National State Enterprises Bill... →

First attempt to add third-party rail participants derails amid moves towards bigger reform

By: Terence Creamer 23rd October 2023 Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Traxtion Sheltam report that they have agreed to terminate the conditional 2022 award of slots to Traxtion Sheltam between Kroonstad and East London on the Cape Corridor amid progress towards a new third-party-access framework. The joint announcement ends an... →

Head of troubled coal line exits Transnet

By: News24Wire 23rd October 2023 In the latest in a slew of resignations, Transnet’s managing executive for the critical export coal line, Ali Motala, is leaving the embattled State-owned company. Several high-placed sources have confirmed Motala's departure from Transnet Freight Rail, although the terms of his departure remain... →

Competition, collaboration needed for an efficient logistics network in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 19th October 2023 Competition is important to create efficiencies in the logistics and transport network, but collaboration is similarly necessary to ensure that all the public and private sector role-players can fulfill their roles in the recovery and improvement of South Africa's underperforming logistics... →

Participants who spoke during Creamer Media's October 18 webinar on the transport sector in South Africa

A panel of experts discuss the current state of South Africa's transport and rail systems and what needs to be done to improve the country's logistics performance.

Ramaphosa rules out privatisating State companies

By: Bloomberg 17th October 2023 President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that his administration wasn’t moving to privatize state-owned companies as the government initiates reforms to clean up their balance sheets and revive their performance. Private-sector investment was necessary to mobilize funds for economic infrastructure... →

Embattled Transnet seeks South Africa’s support to turnaround

By: Bloomberg 16th October 2023 South Africa’s embattled State-owned freight-rail and ports company identified areas that require immediate state support in a turnaround plan that is being submitted to the government. Transnet's board plan to meet the Ministry of Public Enterprises and the Ministry of Finance this week to... →

A train operated by Transnet Freight Rail

Automotive transition presents value chain opportunities

By: Schalk Burger 13th October 2023 The transition of the automotive industry to new energy vehicles holds potential to impact on many other industries, including mining, manufacturing, freight and energy, but collaboration and a policy framework are urgently needed, as current choices will affect the efficiencies of transport for... →

R575m Goodwood social housing project gears up for its first tenants

By: Irma Venter 13th October 2023 Tenanting is set to begin in November on the 330-unit first phase of the Goodwood social housing megaproject, which will, once completed, provide affordable rental opportunities for more than 1 000 Cape Town residents and their families. All 1 000 units will be completed by mid-2024. →

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